Aquatic toy



W. E. LAWSON.

AQUATIC TOY.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I5. IsIs.

'Patented Dec.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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W. E. LAWSON.

AQUATIC ToY.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5. i918. 1,323,876. Patented Dec. 2,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. @-3, f

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WILLIAM EARLE LAWSN, OF RAI-IWAY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES B. FURBER, 0F RAHWAY, NEW JERSEY.

AQUATIC TOY.

Specicaton of Lettersatent.

Patented Dec. 2, 1919.

f Application led July 15, 1918. SerialpNo. 244,917.

To all whom t may concern: Y

` Be it known that I, WILLIAM EABLn LAW- soN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Rahway, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented `a new and Improved Aquatic Toy, of which the following is a full, clear, and yexact description.

' The object of the invention is to provide a new Vand improved aquatic toy more especially designed to simulate a marine Vessel such as a submarine, and arranged to be submerged in a body of water, to be moved along in the body of water and caused to rise tothe surface and travel along the same at the will of the operator. Another object is to provide movable members such as flags, images of officers, sailors and other persons, vordnance and the like, held in inactive folded position when the vessel is submerged and moved into active position on the vessel rising to the surface. Another object is to automatically yfire toy torpedoes, toy guns or similar weapons.v

Vith these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and cate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section of the aquatic toy in the form of Va submarine, the section being on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3, and the parts shown in position when the vessel is submerged;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the vessel Ain iioatingV position 'on the surface of the water;

Fig. 3 is a reduced plan view of the same;

Fig. 4L is a longitudinalV central section of a modied form of the' aquatic toy;

Fig. is a similar view of another modied form of thek aquatic toy; and

Fig. 6 is a similar view of another modified form of the aquatic toy.

The aquatic vessel is preferably in the form of a toysubmarine having a hull 10 made of sheetmetal or similar material and covered by a deck 11 of wood or other light, floatable material and from which rises a post 12 imitating a periscope. The hull 10 is adapted to be lled with water, preferably derived from a body of water on which the vessel is used, and for this pur pose the hull 10 is provided at the bow vand stern with openings 13 forming passageways for the water to yflow into the hull or out of the same.`

Vithin-,the hull 10 and preferably amidship thereof is arranged a chamber 15 closed at the Vsides andl top and open at the bottom a short distance above the bottom of the hull 10. The chamber 15 preferably extends with its upper portion above the deck 11 thus simulating a conning tower, and into the upper endV opens an air supply pipe 16 extending down through the chamber 15 and out of the same and forwardly, finally passing through the .bow to the outside of the hull 10. To the outer end ofthis pipe 16 is secured a rubber tube 17 terminating in an air pressure bulb 18 which when pressed forces air into the upper end of the chamber 15 with a view to force some of the water out through the openings 13, as hereinafter more yfully explained. The parts so far described are common to the various forms` illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, and of which the latter figure shows the aquatic,

toy in` its simplest form.

It will be noticed that in the simple form shown in Fig'. 6 the hull 10 can be'readily filled with water by holding Vthe vessel upside down and pushing it under the surface of a bodyof water contained in a tub, lake,

stream or other waterway. When the hull 10 has filled with water it readily sinks in the body ofv water and eventually rights itself owing to the deck 11 forming a large and exceedingly buoyant member. Now while the vesselis submerged in the body of water it can be readily dragged along under water by the operator pulling on the tube 11. VV hen it is desired to have the vvessel rise to the surface of the body of water, it is only necessary for the operator to squeeze the bulb 18 thus forcing air by way of the flexible tube 17 and the pipe 16 into the upper end of the chamber lwhereby some of thel water is displaced therein and forced o ut of the Vhull 10 by way of the openings 13. By this operation the buoyancy of the vessely causes the latter to rise to the sur. face of the body of water and the vessel can now be drawn along in this position by the roo Ato

the flexible tube 17. lVhen it is desired to again submerge the vessel it is only neces#- sary .for the operator t9 release the-pressure on the bulb 18 so that the bulb again becomes inflated by the return of the airfrom the chamber on the refilling of the hull 10 and chamber 15 by the water entering the openings 13. The above described operation can then be repeated at'the will of the operator, that is, the vessel can be moved along either when submerged or when afloat, and the vessel can be caused to rise or be submerged on the operator pressing and releasing the bulb 18, as above explained.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the chamber 15 is pro-vided with a float or piston 20 rising or falling with the water in the chamber 15. The ioat controls movable parts, such, for instance, as a projectile arranged in a torpedo tube 26, or a toy gun containing a projectile 31, or aiiag having its iags'taff 36 attached to the base'37 of the gun 30 to be moved up and down with the latter. A torpedo tube 26 is fixed in the deck 11'and extends forwardly, and the projectile 25 is pressed on by a spring 40 held in the rear end of the tube 26. The projectile 25 is provided with an annular groove 41 engaged by a pin 42 on a locking and releasing lever 43 lfulcrumed at 44 on the under side of the deck 11 and pressed on by a spring 45 to normally hold the pin 42 in engagement with the groove 41 to lock the projectile 25 in position in the tube 26 and against the tension of the spring 40. The lever 43 extends through a slot 46 formed in one side of the chamber 15 'to be with its free end in the path of lthe float 20. When the vessel is caused to rise, as previously explained, by the downward movement of the float 20 displacing some of the water in the hull'l() then the float 20 comes in contact with the lever 43 and swings the same downward against the tension of the spring 45. This downward movement' of the lever 43 causes the pin 42 to disengage the groove 41 thus releasing the projectile 25 which is-now propelled out of the tube 26 the action of the spring 40.

The base 87 of the gun 30 is mounted to slide up and down in a suitable guideway arranged on the deck 11 so that the gun 30 is normally received in a recess 51 formed in the top of the deck 11, as plainly indicated in Fig. 1. The bottom of the base 37 is providedA withan elongated slot 52 into which projects a'pin53 held on one end of a lever 54 fulcrumed at 55 on the lower'endv of the chamber 1 5. The other end of the lever 54 is'provided with apin 56 engaging an elongated slot 57 formed onthe vunder side of the float 20 so that when the latter moves downward, as previously explained then la swinging motion is given to the lever- 54 whereby the latter vraises the gun"30 above the deck, as indicated in Fig. 2, The projectile 31 is pressed on byl a spr1ng60 arranged in the rear end of the gun 30, and

the projectile is provided with an annular.

upper end of the chamber 15 to impart a swinging motion to this lever 63y at the time the gun 30, moves into vuppermost position Awhereby the pin `62 moves out of engagement with the groove 61 thus releasingv the projectile 31. j of the gun 30 by the action of the spring 60 which is held under tension by the projectile 31 when the latter is in Vlocked position within the gun 30.

The flag 35 is normally concealed within the hull and when the base 37 of the'gun 30 is raised as above explained then the flag is moved upward through a slot formed in the deck 11 at the stern thereof thus displaying the flag at the time the vessel is afloat on the surface of the water. It is understood that when the float 2O rises within the chamber 15 the gun 30 is returned to lowermost -concealed position by the action of the lever 54 connecting the base 37 of the gun with the lioat 20. It is further understood that prior to the next submerging of the vessel vthe projectiles 25 and 31 can be replaced in the tubes 26 and 80 if it is desired to dov so. Instead of the float 20 other means may be employed for imparting movement tok the disappearing gun and The latter is now fired out other devices; for instance, as shown in Fig. j

flated and the gun 80 is received in a recess 85 formedl in the deck 11 of the vessel. When the air pressure is forced through the pipe 16,as previously explained, and a portion ofthis air passes by way of the pipe 85 into the bellows 83 to extend the latter then the gun 80 is moved upward into display position, as shown in Fig. 4. The movable, member 82 of the bellows 83 also carries the staff 86 of a flag 87normally arranged within the hull 10 and adapted to pass into display position through an opening v88 formed in the deck 11. The movable member 82 of the bellows may also be provided with an upwardly vextending-base 90 mounted to slide in a guideway 91 formed 10o, V101, 102, of 'which theifntabierubbef pipel. When the bulbj'lSis pressedv'andV air isforced: hrough'the pipe 16 then a `por-v tion of this airpasses yinto the base 103 and the gun4 10,0 thus moving the 'gun from the closely folded position jin thev recess 105 in the Vdeck 11 into extended display position, as plainly'indicated in Fig. '5r lThe figure 101 is in the form of a gunner normally held deflated in a recess 106 Afornied in the deck 11 and when inflated Yby air Vpressure from the pipe 104 moves into display position at the breech endof the gun 100. The terminal of the pipe 104 connects with the rubber staff 102` of a flag 107 normally folded in a recess 108 on the top of the deck 11. When this staff 102 is iniiated by'air pressure from the pipe 104 the flagf107 is raised from its folded position into display position, as indicated in Fig. 5. It is understood that normally the figures 100, 101 and 102 are in folded deiiated position on the deck 11, but when air .pressure is forced intothe chamber 15 a portion of this pressure passes into the hollow rubber figures to inflate the same and thereby move the gures into display position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the vessel can be readily submerged, raised, or moved about while under the water or floating on the surfacethereof on the operator simply pressing and releasing the bulb, and the various devices, such as the various movable figures, mounted on the vessel can be readily moved into active or display position on raising the vessel, and moved into inactive or folded position on submerging the vessel. f

Although I have shown some imitations of devices now generally used on submarines I do not limit myself to the devices shown and described as the samecan be readily varied and differently located without deviating from the spirit of my invention. Y Having Vthus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent :s-

1. An aquatic toy comprising a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating a submarine and having an opening for the passage of water into the said vessel to sink it in a body of water, the said opening also forming an exit for the water to pass out of the vessel to allow the latter to rise in the body'of water, an air pressure displacement chamber in the said vessel and closed at the sides and top and open at the bottom adjacent the bottom of the said vessel, and air pressure supplying means under the control of an operator and connected with the upper'end of the said displacement chamber to force the water out of the same kinto the hull and out of the said opening to Vcause'the submarine to rise to the'surface of the said body of water.A

v2. An aquatic toy, comprising a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating a submarine ,and having -an opening for the passage of water into the saidvessel to sink it in a body vof water, the said opening also forming an exit 'for the water to passfout of the vessel to n allow the latter to rise in the body of water,

an air pressure displacement chamber in the said vessel and closed at the sides and top and open at the bottom adj acentthe bottom of the said vessel, a pipe extending from the upper portion of the said chamber to the bow of the vessel, a flexible tube connected with the forward end of the said pipe, and a bulb connected with the said tube to force air into the said chamber to displace the water therein, the said flexible tube and bulb forming a means for drawing the submarine when submerged or afloat on the said body of water.l f v 3. An'aquatic toy, comprising a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating a submarine and having an opening for the passage of water into the said vessel to sink it in a body of water, the said opening also forming an exit for the water to pass' out ofthe vessel to allow the latter to rise in the body of water,

an air pressure displacement chamber in the p said vessel and 'closed at thesides and top and open at the bottom adjacent the bottom of the said vessel, air pressure supplying meansfunder the control of an operator and connected with the upper end of the said displacement chamber to force the water out of the same into the hull and .out of the said opening to cause the submarine to rise to the surface of thel said body of water, and miniature devices simulating active means on boardv of a submarine and mounted on the said ,vessel and normally lowered, the said devices being adapted to move into extended position on the submarine rising to the surface of thesaid body'of water.

4. An aquatic toy, comprising a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating a submarine and A having an opening for the passage of water into the said vessel to sink it in a body of water, the said opening also forminga'n exit for the water to pass out of the vessel to'allow the latter to rise in the body of water, an airpressure displacement chamber inthe said vessel and closed' at the sides and top and open at the bottom adjacent the bottom of the said vessel, a pipe extending from the upper portion of the said chamber to the bow of the vessel, a tube connected with the forward end of the said pipe, a bulb con-v nectedwith the said tube to force air into the said'chamber to displace the water there` in', the said tube and bulbforming aV meansY for drawing the submarine along when submerged or afloat on thefsaid body of water, miniature devices ksimulating active l means f onboard of a submarinenormallyheld low,.-v

ered in the ,said hull, and meanswhereby the said devices will be moved 'into extended position whenv the submarineA Vrises to the surfacerlof thewater. n I l, A. A

Y 5. An aquatic toy, comprising. `a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating a submarine and having an opening for the passage of Water v Vof the said vessel, air pressuresupplying Vmeansrunder the control of an operator and connected with J[he upper end of the said displacement, chamber to force fthe water out of the same into the hull and out of the said .opening tov causev the submarine to rise to the surface of the said body of water, the

said air pressure means including afloat rising and falling in the said' air pressure chamber, and toy warfare devices mounted on 4the said vessel and controlled by the said float.

6. An aquatic toy, comprising a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating. a submarine and having an -opening for the passage of the water into the said vessel to sink it in a body of water, the said opening also forming aneXit for the water to pass out of the vessel to allow the latter to rise in the body of water, an air pressure displacementl chamber in the said vessel and closed at the sides and top and open at the bottom adjacent the bottom of the said vessel, air pressure supplying means under the control of an operator and connected with the upper'end f of the said displacement chamber to force the water out of the same into the hull and out of the said opening to cause the submarine to rise to the surface of the said -body of water, the said air pressure means'includling a float movable Vup and down in thesaid air pressure chamber, a toy torpedo tube mounted on the said vessel, a springpressed projectile in the said tube, and locking and Vreleasing means mounted-in the said vessel and controlled by the said oat,the locking and releasing means engaging the said-projectile and holding thesame locked against l the tension of its spring, Vand the said locking and releasing means releasing the said projectile on the vessel rising to thesurface of the body of water. Y

"7. An aquatic toy, comprising a buoyant aquatic vessel simulating a submarine and having anopening for the passage of water into the said vessel to sink it in a body of water, the said'opening also forming an exit for the water to pass out of the 'vessel to allow the latter to-rise in the body of water, an air'pressure displacement chamber inthe maas-r6,

said vessel and. closedat the'v sides and top andA open the 'bottom adjacent the bottom of the said, vessel, air pressure supplying Ameans under thefcontrol of an'operator and connected V'withirthe Vupper end ofY the said displacement :chamber `to' force the water out of the *same` i1,'it`o`.,thel lhull and out of the i said opening. Vto causeithe'submarine to rise to the surface of the said vbody of water, the said air pressure means including a float movable ,up andY down inn the said. air pressure'chamber, a miniature disappearing gun mounted on the said vessel, and means connectingtheY said gunv with the said float to hold the gun` in disappearing position while the` vessel is submerged and to move the gun` for thejwater to pass out ofthe vessel to allow the latter to rise, in thev body of water,

an air pressure displacementchamber in the said vessel. closed at thesides and top and openat the bottom adjacent the bottom of vthe said vessel, and air pressure supplying means under the control of an operator and connected with the upper end of the said Vdisplacement chamber to force the water out of the same into the hull and out of the said Opening to cause the submarine to rise .to the surface `of the said body of water, the said air pressure means including a ,float movable up and down in the said air pressure chamber, a miniature disappearing gun mounted on the said vessel, means connecting the said gun with the said iioat to hold the gun in disappearing position while the vessel is submerged and to movethe gun into raised firing position on the vessely risingl to the surface Vof the water, a projectile vin the saidgun, a spring pressingthe said projectile, and a locking and releasing. means #having an opening*forvthefpassagel of water into the said vessel to sink it in 1a body of` Y water, the said opening also forming an exit adapted toT lock the said projectile` against the tension ofthe said spring while the vessel is submerged and adapted to release the said projectile'onv the vessel rising to the surface of the water.y Y y 9. In. an aquatic toy of the character described, a vessel having a chamber, a float in the chamber, means for forcing air into the chamber above the float, miniature devices vsimulating active means onboard of the ves- 11. In an aquatic toy of the character described, a vessel having a chamber, a ioat in the chamber, means for -orcing air into the chamber above the float, a disappearing gunv mounted in the vessel, and an angular lever connected with the bottom of the oat and With the base of the gun.

for the the vessel, the lower end of the chamber being in communication With the interior of the vessel, a float in the chamber, devices simulating active means on the vessel, and means connecting the devices vvith the float, and means for forcing air into the vessel aboveA the float, whereby the Water will be forced out ofthe vesselv and the devices operated.

WILLIAM EARLE LAWSON. 

